Intermediate rose plant named &#39;Meizuleros&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Intermediate Class is provided which abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive red-purple blossoms that are lighter in coloration on the upper surface of the petals than on the under surface. The growth habit is vigorous and erect. Attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage is formed that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. Tolerance to diseases is good particularly with respect to  Oidium . The new variety forces well under greenhouse growing conditions and is well suited for cut flower production under such conditions.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Intermediate Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Meizuleros’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was the ‘Olijplam’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent is the product of the cross of the ‘Korikis’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the “Olytel’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,862). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Olijplam’×(‘Korikis’×‘Olytel’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the Intermediate rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a vigorous and erect growth habit,     -   (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis         attractive red-purple blossoms that are lighter in coloration on         the upper surface of the petals than on the under surface,     -   (c) forms attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage that         contrasts well with the blossom coloration, and     -   (d) is particularly well suited for cut flower production under         greenhouse growing conditions.

The tolerance to diseases is good particularly with respect to Oidium.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its parental varieties. More specifically, the ‘Olijplam’ variety displays considerably more thorns, the blossoms of the ‘Korikis’ variety are a lighter pink, and the blossoms of the ‘Olytel’ variety are cream margined with pink in coloration.

The new variety performs well under greenhouse growing conditions while producing cut flowers.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meizuleros’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were two years of age and were observed during September while budded on Rosa indica major understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—plan view—upper surface; and

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—plan view—under surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of two year-old plants during September while budded on Rosa indica major understock and growing under greenhouse conditions at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Intermediate. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—when pruned to a height of 0.85 cm, floral stems             having lengths of approximately 50 to 70 cm commonly are             produced.         -   Habit.—erect. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—young stems: near Green Group 138A. — adult wood:             near Green Group 137A.         -   Thorns.—configuration: rather straight, very longish             pointed, curved downwards on the upper surface, and very             concave on the under surface. — size: approximately 0.8 cm             in length on average with an ovate base on young stems, and             approximately 1 cm in length on average with an ovate base             on adult stems. — quantity: approximately 8 on average over             a young stem length of 10 cm, and approximately 4 on average             over an adult stem length of 10 cm. — color: near             Yellow-Green Group 144B on young stems, and near             Greyed-Orange Group 165A and 165B on adult stems.         -   Prickles.—size: approximately 0.4 cm in length on average             with an ovate base. — quantity: approximately 4 on average             over a stem length of 10 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Stipules.—smooth, adnate, pectinate, narrow. approximately             1.1 cm in length on average, approximately 0.1 cm in width             on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper             and under surfaces.         -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Green-Group 137B. — under             surface: near Green Group 137C. — length: approximately 2 cm             on average.         -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Green Group 137B. — under             surface: near Green Group 137C.         -   Leaflets.—number 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape: elliptic             with a pointed tip and a rounded base. — serration: single             and fine (as illustrated). — texture: firm, and semi-glossy.             — general appearance: dense and medium green. — size:             terminal leaflets commonly measure approximately 6 cm in             length, and approximately 4 cm in width. — color (young             foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A             suffused with Greyed-Red Group 178A. under surface: near             Yellow-Green Group 147B suffused with Greyed-Red Group 178A.             — color (adult foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green             Group 147A. under surface: near Yellow Green Group 147B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly one flower per stem.         -   Peduncle.—glandular, near Yellow-Green Group 144A in             coloration, approximately 3.3 cm in length on average, and             approximately 0.4 cm in diameter on average.         -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose, and near Green Group 138B             in coloration. — under surface: glandular, and near             Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. — length:             approximately 3.2 cm on average. — width: approximately 0.9             cm on average. — shape: longish pointed and narrow. —             extensions: commonly three sepals possess very weak             extensions and two sepals commonly possess no extensions.         -   Buds.—shape: conical. — size: medium. — length:             approximately 3.2 cm on average. — width: approximately 2 cm             on average. — color as the calyx breaks: upper surface: near             Red-Purple Group 63B and 63C and amply suffused with             Red-Purple Group 63A and margined with Red Group 53B. under             surface: near Red Group 53A and 53B.         -   Flower.—shape: cup-shaped. — diameter approximately 7 cm on             average when open. — color (in the course of opening): upper             surface: near Red-Purple Group 63C and amply suffused with             Red-Purple Group 63B and margined with Red-Purple Group 63A.             under surface: near Red Group 53B and 53C. — color (when             open): upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 65C and amply             suffused with Red-Purple Group 63B and 63C. under surface:             near Red Group 53D and amply suffused with Red-Purple Group             63A. basal color spot: absent on both surfaces. color             stability: slight lightening in coloration on the upper             surface at the end of blooming. — lasting quality: very long             and commonly approximately 20 to 21 days on average on the             plant and approximately 15 to 18 days on average when out             and placed in a vase. — petal number: commonly approximately             40 on average under normal growing conditions. — petal             arrangement: imbricated. — petaloids: none observed. — petal             shape: obtuse base, rounded tip, approximately 4.1 cm in             length on average, and approximately 4 cm in width on             average. — petal texture: consistent. — petal drop: good,             the petals commonly detach cleanly before drying. —             fragrance: none. — stamen number approximately 104 on             average. — anthers: near Yellow-Orange Group 21C in             coloration, approximately 3 mm in size, and regularly             arranged around the styles. — filaments: near Red Group 56D             in coloration, and approximately 0.7 cm in length. —             pistils: approximately 171 on average. — stigmas: near Red             Group 47B in coloration, and approximately 0.1 cm in size on             average. — styles: near Yellow-Orange Group 14C in             coloration, and the length is approximately 0.6 cm on             average. — hips: none observed to date under greenhouse             growing conditions. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—very vigorous.         -   Blooming.—medium season, very abundant and substantially             continuous.         -   Tolerance to diseases.—good especially with respect to             Oidium.         -   Aptitude to forcing.—excellent. 

1. A new and distinct Intermediate rose plant which exhibits the following combination of characteristics: (a) a vigorous and erect growth habit, (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive red-purple blossoms that are lighter in coloration on the upper surface of the petals than on the under surface, (c) forms attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage that contrasts well with the blossom coloration, and (d) is particularly well suited for cut flower production under greenhouse growing conditions; substantially as illustrated and described. 